How did the Spanish and the Taino Understand Columbus’s Voyage? How did the Europeans feel about the report of a discovery of America by Christopher Columbus? How did the Taino, the native Caribbean people Columbus encountered, feel about his reported discovery? Description For this portfolio project, you will explore different perspectives on Columbus’s voyages and the encounter between the Europeans and the Taino by researching the European and Taino sides of the story. You will then present your findings as either a series of journal entries or as a poem for two voices. You may choose another method of presenting your findings, but you must get approval from your teacher before you start. Your final product will describe the initial meeting between Columbus’s crew and the Taino natives from both perspectives. It should give historically accurate facts, but some historically plausible creative license can be taken to fill in the gaps in the details. Your description should also include sensory details about the encounter, such as the brightness of the sun or the smell of the air. Your portfolio assignment has 3 steps: 1. Research Columbus’s first voyage to the Americas. 2. Analyze your research. 3. Write your description. © 2016 Connections Education LLC. All rights reserved. Step 1 Conduct the following research to complete your assignment: Research Source of Information List basic facts about the voyage— include who, what, when, where, and why. Describe the Taino lifestyle before Columbus’s voyage List some differences between European and Taino ways of life. Describe the European view of Columbus’s voyage and his encounter with the Taino. Describe the Taino view of Columbus’s voyage and their encounter with the Europeans. You can use note cards, type your notes on a computer, or use another notetaking method. Conduct a safe search on the Internet or at your local library for information about Columbus’s meeting with the Taino. © 2016 Connections Education LLC. All rights reserved. 2 Step 2 Before you write your journal entries or poem, reflect on the information you learned while researching Columbus’s first voyage. Note your thoughts to the following questions: 1. What sensory imagery can you use to describe the Europeans’ perspective on the encounter with the Taino? *Sensory imagery allows a reader to see, hear, touch, smell, or taste what the writer is experiencing. Example: The biting wind wailed as they trudged toward home. Words such as biting, wailed, and trudged use the senses to give the reader a clearer idea of what is happening. 2. What sensory imagery can you use to describe the Taino perspective on the encounter with the Europeans? 3. How do you think the perspectives of the Europeans and the Taino people would vary? 4. On what things might the Europeans and Taino agree? 5. How can you demonstrate the differences in the viewpoints in your journal entries or poem? © 2016 Connections Education LLC. All rights reserved. 3 Step 3 You have two choices for a final product—a poem for two voices or a series of journal entries. You may come up with a third option, but you must get permission from your teacher before you begin. Journal Entries A journal is a personal record that someone keeps about her own life. Often a person will write in her journal a few times a week about her experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Historians who find journals often use them to learn about what it was like to live through an important time or event. For this project, you will write two journal entries. One will be from a member of Columbus’s crew, and one will be from a member of the Taino community that met Columbus and his men. Each of your entries should include the following: • a personal narrative of the day the two cultures met • accurate historical facts about Columbus and his crew’s voyage, their meeting with the Taino, and Taino life and culture • creative details that can be inferred from the historical facts • sensory imagery that appeals to the five senses Remember that these two cultures are meeting for the very first time, and almost everything about the other culture will be completely new and unknown. Try to imagine what it would have been like for each group to encounter the other, and let those feelings show through in your writing. The following text is an example of an actual journal entry that was written by one of Ferdinand Magellan’s men during his voyage around the world. It describes a mutiny that began while the crew was stopped in South America (the writer calls it a “treason”). A mutiny is a rebellion against a commanding officer. Notice how the entry describes the event as if the writer was actually there (he uses words like “I” and “we”). “We remained in this port, which was called the port of St. Julian, about five months, during which there happened to us many strange things, of which I will tell a part. One was, that immediately after we entered into this port, the masters of the other four ships plotted treason against the captain-general [Magellan], in order to put him to death. These were thus named: John of Carthagine [Juan de Cartagena], overseer of the fleet; the treasurer, Loys de Mendoza; the conductor, Anthony Cocha; and Gaspar de Casada. However, the treason was discovered, for which the treasurer was killed with stabs of a dagger, and then quartered. This Gaspar de Casada had his head cut off, and afterwards was cut into quarters; and the conductor having a few days later attempted another treason, was banished with a priest, and was put in that country called Pattagonia. The captain-general would not put this conductor to death, because the Emperor Charles had made him captain of one of the ships.” © 2016 Connections Education LLC. All rights reserved. 4 —Antonio Pigafetta, official chronicler of Magellan’s expedition Poem for Two Voices A poem for two voices is meant to be read aloud by two people. Often, these poems offer two sides of the same experience. Usually, the poems are written in two columns, one read by each person. Words that are spoken at the same time are written on the same line. For this project, one column should be from the perspective of a member of Columbus’s crew. The other column should be from the perspective of a member of one of the Taino communities that Columbus visited. Your poem should include the following: • a balance of the perspectives of the Europeans and the Taino • accurate historical facts about Columbus and his crew’s voyage and their meeting with the Taino • creative details that can be inferred from the historical facts • sensory imagery that appeals to the five senses Follow the format of a poem for two voices, using the guidelines below. • Each column is a different voice or person • If both people speak at the same time, the words are written on the same line in both columns. Example: Chicago city of hope Chicago city of ruins Both spreakers would be saying their lines at the same time. • If only one person is speaking at a time, use a blank line to represent silence. The other speaker will have a line to speak in his column. Example: The city grows strong with new life. The city dies. Each of these lines would be spoken separately, one after the other. • Try to have the lines reflect each other. For instance, both of the lines about Chicago describe the city—one describes it as a city of hope while the other describes it as a city of ruins. In the second set of lines, each speaker is presenting contrasting ideas about the city—one says that the city is growing with new life and the other believes that the city is dying. These compare and contrast the viewpoints of the city. In order to learn more about writing a poem in two voices, find the “Write a poem in two voices” article from the EBSCOhost databases, following the previously listed instructions.

Answer 1

Step 1: Research

Basic Facts about Columbus’s Voyage

• Who: Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer sailing under the Spanish flag, with a crew of about 90 men.
• What: The first voyage to the New World, intending to find a westward passage to Asia.
• When: Set sail on August 3, 1492; made landfall on October 12, 1492.
• Where: Landed in the Bahamas, believed to be San Salvador (Cayos Samaná).
• Why: To find new trade routes and expand Spanish territory.

Taino Lifestyle Before Columbus’s Voyage

• The Taino were an Arawakan-speaking people who lived in the Caribbean.
• They were organized into chiefdoms and practiced agriculture (cassava, sweet potatoes) and fishing.
• The Taino celebrated communal life and were known for their vibrant culture, which included music, dance, and crafts.

Differences Between European and Taino Ways of Life

• Economic Structure: Taino communities operated on a subsistence economy, while Europeans pursued trade and wealth accumulation.
• Social Structure: Taino society was communal and had a matrilineal structure; European societies were more hierarchical and patriarchal.
• Beliefs: Taino spirituality was connected closely to nature and the environment. Europeans practiced Christianity with structured religions.

European View of Columbus’s Voyage and Encounter with the Taino

• Europeans, especially the Spanish monarchy, viewed Columbus’s journey as a monumental success, a new frontier for exploration and wealth.
• Columbus was celebrated for his discovery, and there was excitement about new resources and territories.
• Initial encounters were seen as a chance for potential trade and conversion of the Indigenous peoples.

Taino View of Columbus’s Voyage

• The Taino were initially curious and welcoming of Columbus and his crew, viewing them as new potential allies or trading partners.
• The arrival of the Europeans brought confusion, fear, and later devastation as they became aware of the implications of colonization.
• The Taino had no frame of reference for the European desire for land, resources, and dominance, leading to misunderstandings.

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Step 2: Reflection

1. Sensory Imagery for the Europeans’ Perspective:

   • The bracing scent of saltwater filled the air as Columbus’s ships anchored; the roar of waves crashing accompanied their excitement.
   • The vibrant colors of the Taino clothing glimmered under the blazing Caribbean sun, revealing a land rich with bounty.
   • The taste of sweet tropical fruit shared with the Taino contrasted sharply with their salted rations.

2. Sensory Imagery for the Taino Perspective:

   • The warmth of the sun kissed their skin as they approached the strange ships; the sounds of the ocean mingled with the cries of unfamiliar voices.
   • The sight of strange men in metal armor and face paint was both enchanting and frightening.
   • The smell of smoke from their hearths mixed with the unfamiliar smell of the ships, causing a tinge of unease.

3. Variations in Perspectives:

   • Europeans likely saw the Taino as primitive and in need of guidance or control, while the Taino may have seen the Europeans as strangers and potential allies.
   • The Europeans’ goal of conquest and resources contrasted sharply with the Taino's desire for peace and trade.

4. Areas of Agreement:

   • Both groups may have appreciated the beauty of their surroundings, the wealth of nature, and the opportunity for mutual trade and benefits at the outset of their encounter.
   • Each group would recognize the others' skill in navigation and their respective cultural practices.

5. Demonstrating Differences:

   • In journal entries or a poem, contrasting descriptions of feelings (e.g., excitement vs. fear) could highlight their different responses to the meeting.
   • Using descriptive language to convey differing views on territory, resources, and respect for culture would add depth.

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Step 3: Compose Journal Entries

Journal Entry from a Member of Columbus's Crew

Date: October 12, 1492

Today, we set foot on land unlike anything I have ever imagined. The sun blazes overhead, almost as bright as the golden dreams that brought us here. The air dances with the scent of salt and tropical flowers, and I can still hear the waves crashing against our ship as we rowed ashore, our hearts racing with excitement and fear of the unknown.

As we arrived, the Taino people greeted us with curiosity. They wore vibrant garments adorned with shells and feathers that glimmered in the sunlight; their smiles, genuine and bright, offered a strange warmth. I offered them trinkets—simple bells and beads—and received fresh fruit in return, which tasted like the sweetest nectar.

Yet, while I admired their hospitality, I felt an undercurrent of tension. They do not know who we are—strangers with unknown intentions. I wonder how they will view us as we explore their land. Will they be allies or will this meeting mark the beginning of conflict?

Journal Entry from a Taino Community Member

Date: October 12, 1492

Today, strange tall ships swept onto our shores, their sails white against the azure sky. I stood with my kin, watching as these men stepped onto our land. Their skin is light, and they wear odd metal that glimmers in the sunlight. The wind carries the scent of salt and something foreign that leaves me wary.

I approached them, fueled by curiosity, and they offered gifts—a sound of jingles and shiny objects that caught my eye. They smiled, but as I looked into their eyes, I felt a stirring of unease. Do they come as visitors, or will they take from us what is ours?

As we shared our produce, my heart raced; I had never seen people like them before. While we laughed and exchanged fruits, I couldn't shake the feeling that today might change everything. What will our future hold now that they have arrived?

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These entries aim to encapsulate the excitement and misunderstanding of the initial encounters between Columbus's crew and the Taino, while incorporating sensory imagery and historical accuracy.